FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2026 USTA South Carolina Annual Award Recipients
Columbia, SC – October 9, 2026 – USTA South Carolina is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 USTA South Carolina Annual Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to tennis across the state. The recipients will be honored at the Annual Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the City of Aiken, held in conjunction with the USTA South Carolina Annual Meeting in Columbia, South Carolina, on November 14, 2026.
The annual awards program celebrates excellence, leadership, service, and dedication within South Carolina’s tennis community. Honorees represent a wide range of roles, from volunteers and coaches to organizations and events that continue to grow and strengthen the sport of tennis statewide.
Congratulations to our 2026 Annual Award recipients:
Tennis Family of the Year: Tedford Family
Tennis Pro of the Year: Don Moody
Rivers Lynch Coach of the Year: Charlie McDow
Rex Maynard Award: Ethan Kukkamalla
Special Tennis Event of the Year: First Sergeants Shaw AFB – Tennis 4 Turkeys
Sportsmanship Award – Girl: Amelia Baker
Sportsmanship Award – Boy: Marshall Drawdy
Official of the Year: Wilson Smith
NJTL of the Year: Third Serve Foundation
Adult Tournament of the Year: Fleming Open
Cam Littlejohn Community Service: Palmetto Tennis Center
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Ariel Bailey
Adaptive Tennis Volunteer of the Year: ACEing Autism – Charleston
Helen Jeter League Volunteer of the Year: Deborah Salzberg
Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year: Tedi Doncheva
CTA of the Year: Spartanburg Area Tennis Association
Bill Lindsay Junior Leadership Award: Caroline Bruner
Special Recognition – Suggested by Committee: Angelo Anastopoulo
For more information about USTA South Carolina and its programs, visit sctennis.com/awards/.
USTA South Carolina is the state affiliate of the United States Tennis Association and is one of nine states that comprise the USTA Southern Section. A not-for-profit organization with more than 23,000 members, USTA South Carolina offers a variety of tennis programs and services for all ages and abilities to fulfill its mission to improve lives and build healthier communities in South Carolina by growing and promoting tennis as a lifelong sport. For more information, visit us online at sctennis.com, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/sctennis, follow us on Instagram @ustasouthcarolina, or email info@sctennis.com.
Media contact:
Collen Hancock
803-781-2574 Ext. 118